Michael Cameron, Lead Legislation Solicitor with the Department of Corrections, was awarded the 2016 New Zealand Law ... read more.

Research Report Released on Experiences of Grandparents in the Family Court - pre the 2014 changes

Pukeko Research has released results of a Law Foundation funded survey on a group of grandparents raising their grandchildren - grandparents who had been involved in custody and guardianship matters in the Family Court prior to the 2014 changes.
The study, titled “Study of Grandparents in Family Court Proceedings over their ... read more.

New Zealand Red Cross, in conjunction with the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) will run the fifth International Humanitarian Law (IHL) Moot Court Competition for New Zealand law students on 2nd and 3rd December 2016, in Wellington.
This is the only competition of its type in New Zealand. ... read more.

Professor Ngaire Naffine will present this year’s Shirley Smith Address on the topic "Manliness, Male Right and Criminal law: the Uses of Criminal Law in the Formation of the Character of the Male Legal Person".
5:30pm, Wed 23 Nov 2016 – VUW Law School, Lecture Theatre-2, behind the Old Government Buildings, ... read more.

Highly successful round table on "Access to Justice for Indigenous Peoples" - held in Waikato

The Law Foundation provided support for the Access to Justice Round Table held at Waikato University on 26 October 2016 in association with the Maori Indigenous Governance Centre and Griffith University, Australia.
Discussion centred around systematic challenges within our legal systems which create hurdles for indigenous peoples to gain access to ... read more.

October 2016

Just released - “Patent Law and Policy” book by Susy Frankel (VUW)

The just released Patent Law and Policy book is Professor Susy Frankel’s second publication based on her Law Foundation funded research project titled “Intellectual Property Law for a Small Developed Country”.
The book addresses two core questions: What is the law in New Zealand when it comes to patents? What is ... read more.

YouthLaw report recommends changes in view of the rise in cases of informally removed students

Youthlaw today released their research report titled “Barriers to Education in New Zealand: the Rise of Informal Removals of Students in New Zealand”. The research, funded by the New Zealand Law Foundation, highlights the experiences of a number of children removed from school in a manner inconsistent with the provisions ... read more.

Research is Underway on Regulating New Digital Currencies

The first research project for the Law Foundation’s $2m Information Law and Policy Project (ILAPP)* is already underway. It is titled “Regulating Digital Currencies that use Blockchain Technology” and it deals with one of the most game-changing and challenging technology innovations in the world of business and finance.
You may have ... read more.

Subscribe to the Law Foundation’s YouTube channel and find out about latest legal research projects and what visiting legal experts have to say

The Law Foundation invites you to subscribe to its YouTube channel and find out about our latest legal research projects underway or recently completed.
Our NZLF Snapshot series of videos has short interviews with leading New Zealand researchers whose projects we are funding. The projects tackle a range of legal ... read more.

September 2016

Foundation backs constitutional conversation - based on book "Constitution Aotearoa" being launched at Parliament today

The conversation has started on a written constitution for New Zealand – and the Law Foundation is backing the discussion.
Former Prime Minister Sir Geoffrey Palmer and Dr Andrew Butler launch their book, Constitution Aotearoa, at Parliament today Wednesday 21st September, with the aim of stimulating a national constitutional debate. The book ... read more.

Outstanding contribution: Otago Law Professors Skegg and Smillie are acknowledged

Yesterday the Otago Law Faculty celebrated the launch of two Law Foundation funded books written in honour of their academic staff: Emeritus Professor Peter Skegg and Emeritus Professor John Smillie.
The books, “Law, Ethics, and Medicine: Essays in honour of Peter Skegg” and “The Search for Certainty: Essays in Honour of ... read more.

August 2016

New $2M fund for research on information challenges

A new, independent $2 million research fund is now available for projects that will better prepare New Zealand for the challenges of the information age.
The New Zealand Law Foundation’s Information Law and Policy Project (ILAPP), launched at Parliament tonight by Justice and Communications Minister Amy Adams, will develop law and ... read more.

Iwi chairs work on new framework aimed at reducing youth offending

A Law Foundation-backed project is helping the National Iwi Chairs Forum develop a new basis for interacting with the state to achieve better outcomes for young Māori offenders.
The “engagement framework” will be developed by iwi, with assistance from Judge Carolyn Henwood and Jennifer George of the Henwood Trust.
Judge Henwood says ... read more.

Calling legal scholars - apply now for Law Foundation Scholarships

Every year at about this time the Law Foundation reminds legal researchers to get their applications in for the latest round of New Zealand Law Foundation scholarships. Closing dates for most of our awards are coming up soon.

International Research Fellowship

New Zealand’s premier legal award, the International Research Fellowship (IRF), is ... read more.

PROFESSOR GRAHAM VIRGO is visiting New Zealand during August as the New Zealand Law Foundation’s 2016 Distinguished Visiting Fellow.
While in New Zealand he will be hosted by the Faculty ... read more.

NZLF National Young Lawyers’ Mooting Competition Final Results

For the second year in a row the regional team from Canterbury-Westland won the Law Foundation’s National Young Lawyers’ Mooting Competition. Our congratulations go to the winners Stephanie Mann and Sam Henry who won the final moot against Tim Burtenshaw and Simon Schofield from the Waikato-BOP team.
The final was ... read more.

July 2016

People with impaired decision-making capacity need better legal protection to ensure their confinement in care arrangements is warranted, important new research has found.
Researcher Alison Douglass says urgent review is needed of New Zealand’s law protecting and promoting the rights of people with impaired ability to make their own life decisions.
“Many ... read more.

Human Rights in New Zealand: Emerging Faultlines - new book release

"Human Rights in New Zealand" was launched by Bridget Williams Books at a public event in Wellington on 20th July.
The book is based on a research report Fault lines: Human Rights in New Zealand published in April 2015 by the book’s authors Judy McGregor, Sylvia Bell and Margaret Wilson - ... read more.

PROFESSOR GRAHAM VIRGO is visiting New Zealand during August as the New Zealand Law Foundation’s 2016 Distinguished Visiting Fellow.
While in New Zealand he will be hosted by the Faculty ... read more.

June 2016

Research reveals changes are needed to retain young lawyers in the profession

A ground-breaking report on the experiences of new New Zealand lawyers has today been released highlighting the need for the profession to consider making changes to improve work satisfaction and hopefully the retention of graduates in the workplace. The report, funded by the Law Foundation, says that the way ... read more.

Proposed Constitution for NZ encourages public debate

The Law Foundation is backing work led by former Prime Minister Sir Geoffrey Palmer to draft a model New Zealand Constitution, with the intention of stimulating public debate.
Sir Geoffrey says the country needs a constitution that is “fit for the modern age” to prevent governments from abusing power.
He is working ... read more.

20th NZLF Ethel Benjamin Commemorative Address – to be given by The Hon. Marcia Neave AO

The 2016 New Zealand Law Foundation Ethel Benjamin Commemorative Address will be presented by The Hon. Marcia Neave AO, at 1pm on 14th July at the Dunedin Public Art Gallery, 30 The Octagon, Dunedin.

VUW research publication examines the state’s power to obtain and retain DNA

Research into the pre-trial collection and retention of DNA in New Zealand was carried out by Dr Nessa Lynch, senior lecturer in law at Victoria University of Wellington (VUW). Results of the study, published late in 2015, concluded that individual rights must be carefully balanced with the public good when ... read more.

Support for further Research on Protecting Biodiversity in New Zealand

Environmental Defence Society (EDS) began research in May on their latest project "Strengthening Regulatory Outcomes: practice, innovation and enhancement of environmental enforcement in New Zealand". This is their third project relating to the protection of biodiversity in NZ. All three have been funded by the Law Foundation and led by ... read more.

"Powerful" Digital Treaty Collection now live

Many leading works on the Treaty of Waitangi are now available digitally via a single online “e-collection”, thanks in part to Law Foundation support.
In early April, Bridget Williams Books’ (BWBs) Treaty E-Collection went live, giving subscribers online access to significant works on the Waitangi Tribunal, Treaty settlements and histories of ... read more.

May 2016

2016 Law Foundation Ethel Benjamin Scholarship winners announced

The New Zealand Law Foundation Ethel Benjamin scholarship for outstanding women lawyers has this year been awarded jointly to Holly Hedley and Bree Huntley.
The award honours New Zealand’s first woman barrister and solicitor, Ethel Benjamin, who was admitted in 1897. It supports postgraduate research in law that will protect and ... read more.

NZ Team wins Brown-Mosten International Client Consultation Competition for 7th Time

The New Zealand team, made up of Eve Bain and Fayez Shahbaz from Victoria University of Wellington, has won the International Client Consultation Competition that took place 27-30 April in Windsor, Canada. This is the seventh time in 19 years that New Zealand has won this event.
This year’s competition was ... read more.

April 2016

Taking Stock of Family Justice Reforms

University of Otago Evaluates 2014 Family Law Reform
The 2014 Family Court reforms fundamentally changed the ways that separated couples gain access to the family justice system. Having had two years to settle in, a comprehensive study on how well the reforms are working is now underway, thanks to Law Foundation ... read more.

The Law Foundation is now on Facebook

The Law Foundation is pleased to announce its brand new Facebook page, aimed at promoting awareness of legal research and scholarship funded by the Foundation. We will keep our page regularly updated with links to recent research reports, publications, and videos of keynote speakers. We hope to start academic ... read more.

Stimulating Public Debate – the TPPA

The Law Foundation has an established track record of supporting projects that shed light on controversial issues. More recently it funded work on the highly charged issue of the Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement (TPPA).
The project attempted to demystify complex issues and stimulate debate through a series of expert analyses on aspects ... read more.

February 2016

Law Foundation brings top speakers to NZ in 2016

Every year Law Foundation support enables many eminent international legal experts to visit New Zealand and speak at conferences, seminars and lectures. We also fund law student attendance at some of these events. In 2016 the Law Foundation is providing up to $155,467 in support of these visits and the ... read more.

New projects tackling big issues

2016 promises to be an exciting year for the Law Foundation, with more new projects under way than ever before.
Listed below are some of the projects most recently approved by our Board – they address some of the more challenging legal issues of our time, including surrogacy law, ACC appeals, ... read more.

January 2016

Justice Minister Adams commends the work of the Foundation

Hon Amy Adams, Minister of Justice and Minister for Courts, was the keynote speaker at the NZ Law Foundation’s Annual Awards Dinner held on 3rd December 2015 at Te Papa in Wellington.
Her speech is now available via this NZ Government web page and via the Law Foundation’s publications page. ... read more.

December 2015

Winner of 2015 NZ Law Foundation International Research FellowshipNeil Boister, Professor in Law at University of Waikato, was awarded the 2015 New Zealand Law Foundation International Research Fellowship at the Foundation’s Annual Awards Dinner held at Te Papa ... read more.

September 2015

Student Mooting Competitions receive $72,000 in 2015

Each year the NZ Law Foundation assists student mooting teams’ participation in competitions by funding their travel costs. For almost 20 years, it has supported the following four key mooting competitions annually:

Brown-Mosten International Client Consultation Competition

This year’s competition was hosted by the University of Nebraska School of Law in Lincoln ... read more.

August 2015

2015 Law Foundation Ethel Benjamin Scholarship Winners

Two young lawyers – Stephanie Thompson and Rebecca Thomson – are winners of this year’s New Zealand Law Foundation Ethel Benjamin Scholarship.
Stephanie ... read more.

Law Foundation brings top International Speakers to NZ in 2015

Every year Law Foundation support enables many eminent international legal experts to visit New Zealand and speak at conferences, seminars and lectures. We also fund law student attendance at these events. In 2015 the Law Foundation is providing up to $114,206 in support of these visits and the dissemination of ... read more.

July 2015

Research Identifies Barriers to Accessing Justice with ACC Appeals

Research carried out by a team of researchers in partnership with Acclaim Otago (Inc) has found serious barriers to access to justice for people challenging ACC decisions through the court system. This research was funded by NZ Law Foundation and produced in collaboration with the University of Otago Legal Issues ... read more.

The FIRE Economy book launch – Jane Kelsey

Jane Kelsey’s latest Law Foundation funded book The FIRE Economy will be launched on 14 July in Wellington. This will be followed by public talk events in Auckland and Christchurch. Here are the details:
Wellington: Tues 14 July, 5.30pm – National Library of NZ
Cnr Molesworth and Aitken Streets
Jane Kelsey in conversation ... read more.

May 2015

NZLF Board Appointments

We are delighted to announce the appointment this month of Jonathan Temm to the Foundation board. Jonathan is a past president of the NZ Law Society and a barrister in Rotorua. We are sad to farewell long-serving board member Warwick Deuchrass who is stepping down after almost 12 ... read more.

April 2015

National Mooting Competition for Young Lawyers

4 MAY 2015, NZ LAW FOUNDATION NATIONAL YOUNG LAWYERS’ MOOTING COMPETITION
The Law Foundation is backing the expansion of a regional advocacy event into a national competition for young lawyers.
The New Zealand Law Foundation National Mooting competition started life as a Wellington-only event in 2013 organised by the Wellington Young ... read more.

VUW Conference – Law and Trade with Latin America

Conference – Common Grounds: Nueva Zelanda y América Latina – Una Perspectiva Jurídica
21-23 October 2015, VICTORIA UNIVERSITY OF WELLINGTON
This two-day conference will provide an opportunity to gain an understanding of Latin America’s commercial and trade laws within an economic and cultural context. It aims to share knowledge about the legal ... read more.

New videos: Appearing in the Family Court - without a Lawyer

Two new community videos titled “Without a Lawyer in the Family Court” have been made to provide insight into the workings of the Court. They enable viewers to gain a clear understanding of what to expect and how best to prepare for their own appearances.
The production of the videos, initiated ... read more.

New book "Vanishing Nature" highlights need to take action to protect NZ's biodiversity

The new EDS* publication ‘Vanishing Nature: facing New Zealand’s biodiversity crisis’ presents an exhaustive analysis of New Zealand’s biodiversity status and management. It evaluates its weaknesses and identifies practical options for strengthening it.
The book, produced with funding from the NZ Law Foundation and others, is the result of 2 years ... read more.

New Zealand’s Human Rights Reputation at Risk

A report on the status of human rights in New Zealand says serious fault lines are developing and that the country’s reputation as a global leader is at risk.
“A three year study of the six major human rights treaties that New Zealand has signed shows we’re better at talking about ... read more.

February 2015

Law Foundation brings Top International Speakers to NZ in 2015

Every year Law Foundation support enables many eminent international legal experts to visit New Zealand and speak at conferences, seminars, lectures and other events. In 2015 the Law Foundation is providing up to $76,170 in support of these visits and the dissemination of knowledge that comes from them.
Here is a ... read more.

December 2014

New Book Takes Fresh Look at Success of Youth Justice in NZ

“New Zealand’s Gift to the World: the Youth Justice Family Group Conference”, is a celebration of New Zealand’s Family Group Conference (FGC) that came into being with the Children, Young Persons and Their Families Act 1989, 25 years ago.
This Law Foundation-funded publication is co-authored by Judge Carolyn Henwood*, and writer ... read more.

Winner Announced for 2014 Cleary Memorial Prize

Seamus Woods is the 2014 winner of the New Zealand Law Foundation Cleary Memorial Prize. Not only is he a top academic achiever, he also has an impressive background in community ... read more.

2014 International Research Fellowship Awarded to Dunedin Barrister

Alison Douglass, Dunedin Barrister and Convenor of the New Zealand Law Society’s Health Law Committee, has been awarded the 2014 New Zealand Law Foundation International Research Fellowship.
Mental Capacity: Updating the ... read more.

Biography “Prendergast: Legal Villain?” is now available

Grant Morris’s biography of New Zealand's infamous and second longest serving Chief Justice, James Prendergast, was launched by Justice John McGrath on 12 November. The venue was the magnificent old High Court in Wellington where Justice Prendergast himself had ... read more.

October 2014

TOURING ALL NZ LAW SCHOOLS AND GIVING PUBLIC LECTURES
This year’s fellow is a copyright law expert, Professor Jane Ginsburg of New York’s Columbia Law School. Professor Ginsburg will be hosted by the Law Faculty at Victoria University of Wellington during Oct-Nov. She will spend 4-5 weeks touring New Zealand law ... read more.

Foundation funds research examining "Designer Baby" issues

The Law Foundation is funding an important new study analysing the legal, ethical and social issues around human pre-implantation genetic testing.
Principal Researcher Dr Jeanne Snelling, of the Otago University Bioethics Centre, says whole genome analysis (WGA) is already being used to identify genetic contributors to complex diseases like cancer and ... read more.

Law Foundation/Justice Ministry agreement delivering results

A formal cooperation agreement between the Law Foundation and the Ministry of Justice is starting to produce tangible results.
Late last year the Foundation and the Ministry’s Policy Group signed a Memorandum of Understanding to establish a closer working relationship for their mutual benefit.
The agreement includes provision for both organisations to ... read more.

Much anticipated “Foreign Relations Law” book release by 2010 Law Foundation International Research Fellow

The release of Professor Campbell McLachlan’s book “Foreign Relations Law” marks the completion of his project for which he was awarded the 2010 NZ Law Foundation International Research Fellowship*.
McLachlan, a Professor ... read more.

September 2014

Twelve teams recently competed in the NZ Law Foundation Mooting Competition run by the NZLS Auckland Branch Young Lawyers’ Committee*. ... read more.

2014 Law Foundation Dispute Resolution Lecture

Professor Thomas Stipanowich, of Pepperdine University, California will deliver the 2014 NZ Law Foundation International Dispute Resolution Lecture. His public lecture titled “International Mediation and Conflict Management: Near a Tipping point?” will be held:

August 2014

Professor Helen Alvaré from the George Mason School of Law in Virginia USA was the 2014 presenter of the Maxim Institute’s Sir John Graham Lecture, which was funded by the Law Foundation. Her lecture “When Freedoms Collide”was delivered to an audience of about 250 on 31st July at the ... read more.

2014 Student Mooting Competitions receive $72,000 annual funding

Each year the NZ Law Foundation assists student mooting teams’ participation in competitions by funding their travel costs. For almost 20 years, it has supported the following four key mooting competitions annually:

Brown-Mosten International Client Consultation Competition

This year’s competition was held in San Juan (Puerto Rico) 9-12 April, and New Zealand ... read more.

July 2014

Mooting Competition Hones Court Advocacy Skills for Junior Lawyers

Following the success of an inaugural competition last year, the Wellington Young Lawyers’ Committee* organised a mooting competition aimed at giving ... read more.

Regulatory reform book earns high praise

The Law Foundation’s regulatory reform project offers huge potential to positively influence public policy. There was backing for that view recently from one of New Zealand’s leading law reformers, Professor John Burrows.
Professor Burrows is a leading commentator on the New Zealand legal system. His distinguished career includes, most recently, terms ... read more.

June 2014

New Online Legal Journal

A new legal journal funded by the Law Foundation has just been launched. The Public Interest Law Journal of New Zealand is an annual, refereed publication showcasing articles written by New Zealand law students on topics of importance to vulnerable groups in society as well as the general public. The Journal will provide students ... read more.

2014 Law Foundation Ethel Benjamin Scholarship has Three Recipients

Three young lawyers – Lani Inverarity, Elizabeth Chan and Zoe Fuhr – are the winners of this year’s New Zealand Law Foundation Ethel Benjamin Scholarship.
Lani Inverarity plans to study towards an LLM at Yale University. Her two areas of intended specialisation will be intelligence law reform and the rights ... read more.

Scholarship Applications Reminder of Closing Dates

Law Foundation awards $230,000 annually for Scholarships. This year five scholarships will be awarded, three of which are now open for applications:
Shadow Report Award – closing date is Friday 1st August
$10,000 is awarded annually, to help human rights advocates report on New Zealand’s compliance with its international treaty obligations.

April 2014

Law Foundation brings Top International Speakers to NZ in 2014

Every year Law Foundation support enables many eminent international legal experts to visit New Zealand and speak at conferences, seminars, lectures and other events. In 2014 the Law Foundation is providing $139,000+ in support of these visits and the dissemination of knowledge that comes from them.
Here is a snapshot of ... read more.

February 2014

Book release - ‘New Zealand’s Mental Health Act in Practice’

Over 500 copies of the book New Zealand’s Mental Health Act in Practice were released in November 2013 at five Mental Health Law Conferences held in main centres around NZ.
The book, funded in part by the New Zealand Law Foundation, presents a thorough, non-governmental review of the workings of the ... read more.

New Thinking on Sustainability Conference

14-16 Feb 2014
VICTORIA UNIVERSITY OF WELLINGTON (VUW)
The ‘New Thinking on Sustainability Conference’ is being held by the Earth Law Alliance Aotearoa NZ and the German Australian Pacific Lawyers Assn, and hosted by the NZ Centre for Public Law at VUW from 14-16 Feb. The New Zealand Law Foundation is ... read more.

December 2013

Evaluating Problem-Solving Courts project releases 5 reports

The Centre for Mental Health Research at the University of Auckland has just released 5 reports as part of their preparatory study on problem-solving courts in New Zealand. The project, headed by Dr Katey Thom, sought to provide an evaluation model that could be applied across all problem-solving courts.
Dr Thom ... read more.

Blog now available for NZ Style Guide

The New Zealand Law Style Guide, presently in its second edition (2011) now has a blog run by the Style Guide editorial team.
The blog aims to provide posts that are helpful for Style Guide users, and will include news and updates as well as resolving common queries. It ... read more.

Sir Geoffrey Palmer’s Book ‘Reform – a memoir’ is launched

Sir Geoffrey Palmer’s book ‘Reform –a memoir’ was launched on 21st November at the Grand Hall of Parliament.
This autobiography recounts events and forces that shaped the life of Sir Geoffrey Palmer, from his childhood in Nelson through to his career as a politician, a law professor and a law practitioner*.
As ... read more.

Ceri Warnock 2013 International Research Fellow

Otago University senior law lecturer Ceri Warnock is the 2013 New Zealand Law Foundation International Research Fellow.
Ms Warnock’s research, which will be conducted in New Zealand, Australia and the United Kingdom, is entitled The New Zealand Environment Court: Importance and Limitations.
The objective of the study is to conduct the first ... read more.

Sam McMullan 2013 Winner of Cleary Memorial Prize

Sam McMullan is the 2013 winner of the Cleary Memorial Prize, announced at the Law Foundation Annual Awards dinner at Parliament’s Grant Hall on 4 December 2013.
Mr McMullan graduated from Victoria University in 2010 with an LLB with first class honours and a BA (in Asian Studies and Japanese) ... read more.

November 2013

Acclaim Otago Receives Law Foundation Award

Acclaim Otago (Inc), a support group for injured New Zealanders and their families with members throughout New Zealand, has recently been awarded the annual NZ Law Foundation Shadow Report Award. This funding will be used to produce and present a shadow report to the United Nations on New Zealand’s compliance ... read more.

October 2013

Law Foundation awards $72,000 annually to student mooting teams

Each year the NZ Law Foundation assists student mooting teams’ participation in competitions by funding their travel costs. It has supported the following four key mooting competitions annually for almost 20 years.

Philip C Jessup International Law Moot

The Jessup Moot is known as the largest, oldest and most prestigious competition ... read more.

Future use of Genetic Evidence in the NZ Justice System

‘Dealing with Genes for Criminality’ was the title of a Genetics Week lecture given by Associate Professor Colin Gavaghan and Professor Julian Savulescu on 25 September at the University of Otago.
The lecture looked at known genetic links to violent criminal behaviour, and considered how genetic evidence could potentially be used ... read more.

September 2013

Research report now available on the Role of District Inspectors

The Centre for Mental Health Research at the University of Auckland has published a report on the role of District Inspectors. District Inspectors are appointed by the Minister of Health to ensure that the rights of people detained for compulsory psychiatric treatment are respected and upheld.
The report for this project, ... read more.

The conference is being run by the New Zealand Centre for Public Law and is hosted by Hon Chris Finlayson QC. It aims to shed light ... read more.

July 2013

New Toolkit aids better regulation in New Zealand

An important new weapon in the ongoing battle to achieve effective regulation in New Zealand was launched in Wellington on Thursday 4th July.
The New Zealand Law Foundation Regulatory Reform Toolkit ... read more.

May 2013

Recipients of 2013 Law Foundation Ethel Benjamin Scholarship to study Private Law and Tax Law

The 2013 recipients of the NZ Law Foundation Ethel Benjamin Scholarship were announced at the annual Ethel Benjamin Address held in Dunedin on 8 May. This year the ... read more.

New publication on Smarter Regulation in NZ is launched

'Recalibrating Behaviour: Smarter Regulation in a Global World' was launched by Sir Geoffrey Palmer at the Regulatory Reform Conference at Victoria University of Wellington (VUW) on 23 April.
This is the second publication from the NZ Law Foundation Regulatory Reform Project, led by Professor Susy Frankel of VUW.
Over the past 2+ ... read more.

April 2013

11th IUCN Academy of Environmental Law Colloquium, 24-28 June 2013

Te Piringa – Faculty of Law at the University of Waikato is hosting the 11th IUCN Academy* of Environmental Law Colloquium in June this year. The NZ Law Foundation is providing support to bring overseas keynote speakers to the event.
This is the first time the IUCN Academy has held their annual ... read more.

International Assn of Women Judges holds Regional Conference in Auckland

The NZ Association of Women Judges is hosting a regional Asia-Pacific Conference for the International Association of Women Judges with the support of the Law Foundation.
The conference will be held 10-12 May in Auckland and will bring together judges from a range of jurisdictions to discuss issues of common concern. ... read more.

17th Annual NZ Law Foundation Ethel Benjamin Commemorative Address

Justice Catherine Davani will deliver the 2013 New Zealand Law Foundation Ethel Benjamin Commemorative Address at the Dunedin Public Art Gallery, in the Octagon, at 1pm on Wednesday 8 May. The Address commemorates Ethel Benjamin, New Zealand's first woman lawyer, and celebrates her pioneering spirit, and the advancement of women ... read more.

Radio NZ broadcasts Debates on the Constitution – hosted by NZ Centre for Public Law

During April and May, the Foundation is supporting the NZ Centre for Public Law (Victoria University of Wellington) to host a series of debates on issues raised by the government’s review of the New Zealand constitution. The debates will be recorded with a live audience and broadcast on Radio NZ ... read more.

VUW hosts Regulatory Reform Conference – 23-24 April 2013

The Victoria University Faculty of Law will host the Conference 'Recalibrating Behaviour: Smarter Regulation in a Global World' on 23-24 April 2013. Keynote speakers include Professor Fiona Haines from the School of Social and Political Sciences at University of Melbourne and Professor Jonathon B Wiener from the Nicholas ... read more.

March 2013

Research Report now available on Expert Witnesses in NZ Criminal and Family Courts

Dr Emily Henderson and Professor Fred Seymour released their research report titled ‘Expert Witnesses Under Examination in the New Zealand Criminal and Family Courts’ on Friday 8 March.

The report has been published by the University of Auckland’s School of Psychology and is now available on the Law Foundation website.

February 2013

Public Lecture dates: Lord Phillips of Worth Matravers

New Zealand Law Foundation’s 2013 Distinguished Visiting Fellow Lord Phillips of Worth Matravers will present public lectures during his visits to New Zealand law schools from 4 March until 28th March 2013. He is being hosted by the University of Auckland’s School of Law.

First President of Supreme Court of UK is Law Foundation's 2013 Distinguished Visiting Fellow

LORD PHILLIPS OF WORTH MATRAVERS is visiting New Zealand in March as the New Zealand Law Foundation’s 2013 Distinguished Visiting Fellow. His visit is being hosted by the Faculty ... read more.

Know Your Rights TV Series Returns

The Know Your Rights television series produced in 2012 will re-screen from 6 Feb to 1 May on Sky Channel 89 weekly on Wednesdays at 7.30pm.

Presenter, Catriona MacLennan, says the series is aimed at improving access to a range of legal information. It particularly targets those who have English as their ... read more.

November 2012

Inaugural Human Rights Award announced

New Zealand has been an active supporter of human rights legal development internationally, and the Law Foundation has often backed work in this area. Earlier this year we launched a new human rights award - the New Zealand Law Foundation Shadow Report Award, supporting people or organisations preparing shadow reports for ... read more.

Cleary Prize shared this year

Two lawyers have won the 2012 New Zealand Law Foundation Cleary Memorial Prize.
Catherine Harwood and Rebecca Rose were announced as this year’s winners at the Law Foundation’s 2012 Annual Awards Dinner, hosted by Justice Minister Judith Collins at Parliament’s Grand Hall on 29 November.
read more.

NZ's Premier Law Prize announced

Dr Emily Henderson will research the reform of cross-examination as the 2012 New Zealand Law Foundation International Research Fellow.
Her award of the fellowship was announced at the New Zealand Law Foundation 2012 Annual Awards Dinner, hosted by ... read more.

October 2012

Inaugural International Dispute Resolution Lecture by International Expert Lucy Reed

The inaugural New Zealand Law Foundation International Dispute Resolution Lecture takes place on 7 November at Victoria University Law School.
The inaugural lecture will be given by Lucy Reed, a top-ranked international arbitration practitioner and past President of the American ... read more.

Youth Advocates in NZ’s Justice System

Recently released research suggests Youth Justice Lawyers are doing a good job of protecting young people’s rights in our New Zealand justice system.
Researcher Alison Cleland, Senior Lecturer in law at University of Auckland, launched her research report “Youth advocates in Aotearoa/New Zealand’s youth justice system – Exploring the roles, functions ... read more.

September 2012

Pacific Law and Culture Conference

The conference Law and Culture 2012: Pacific Law and Aotearoa/New Zealand, washeld at the University of Auckland from 29-31 August, and hosted by the Faculty of Law.
The focus for the conference was on the NZ-Pacific relationship and current legal challenges that face Pacific nations. Presentations were given on issues ... read more.

Podcasts available for AMINZ Conference presentations

Podcasts are now available for presentations given at the Conference of the Arbitrators and Mediators Institute of New Zealand (AMINZ) in Wellington on 2-4 August 2012.
Of particular interest is the keynote address “Global to Local” given by Professor Ingeborg Schwenzer, Chair of the Advisory Council for the United Nations ... read more.

13th International Criminal Law Congress

The 13th International Criminal Law Congress is being held in Queenstown this week, with the theme "The Shrinking International Criminal Code”.
The programme covers a diverse range of criminal justice topics including: cybercrime, future forensic challenges, brain-injured criminal justice detainees, the effectiveness of special intervention courts and bill of rights issues.
The ... read more.

August 2012

Law Foundation Awards: Applications closing soon!

Applications for the International Research Fellowship applications close on 1 September and the Cleary Prize applications/nominations close on 30th September. Applications for the Doctoral Scholarship close on 1 October.
Please contact Lynda Hagen (04 499 1038; email: lynda@lawfoundation.org.nz) if you need further information or visit our scholarships page. ... read more.

July 2012

ANZSIL Conference Keynote Addresses Available

The 20th Annual Conference of the Australian and New Zealand Society of International Law (ANZSIL) was held 5-7 July in Wellington and hosted by the NZ Centre for Public Law, at Victoria University.
The conference titled “International Law in the Next Two Decades: Form or Substance?” looked at the development of ... read more.

Justice Kate O’Regan delivered the 2012 New Zealand Law Foundation Ethel Benjamin Commemorative Address in Dunedin on 23 April. Notes of her address “Transforming the judiciary – a continuing South African journey” are now available for you to read.

Justice O’Regan was judge of the South African Constitutional Court from ... read more.

June 2012

Popular “Know Your Rights” TV series ends mid-July

The final 4 episodes of television series “Know Your Rights” will screen from 28-June to 19-July on Triangle Television.
This very successful 13-part series has been aimed at improving access to a range of legal information, particularly for those who have English as a second language or who do not ... read more.

The Good Doctor - A powerful prescription for change

The Law Foundation funded the recent publication of an important new book, The Good Doctor – What Patients Want, by former Health and Disability Commissioner Ron Paterson, now a professor in Auckland University's Law Faculty.
What makes a good doctor? Why are there bad doctors out there still practising? And how ... read more.

Launch of new award to help NZ human rights watchdogs

A new award is now available to help human rights advocates report on New Zealand’s compliance with its international treaty obligations.
The New Zealand Law Foundation Shadow Report Award worth up to $10,000 will be available each year to a non-government organisation or individual interested in Human Rights issues.
United Nations organisations ... read more.

May 2012

Uptake of Coroners’ recommendations to be investigated

A major new study will examine whether Coroners’ recommendations are being acted on and helping save lives.
Otago University researchers Professor Mark Henaghan and Dr Jennifer Moore will review all Coroners’ findings and recommendations between 2006 and 2011 and interview around 60 agencies and organisations to determine how ... read more.

2012 Ethel Benjamin Scholarship winner to study fresh water regulation in US

Environmental law enthusiast Amelia Keene has won the 2012 New Zealand Law Foundation Ethel Benjamin Scholarship for outstanding young woman lawyers.
Amelia will use the $50,000 award to undertake an LLM course at Columbia University in New York. Her research paper will compare ... read more.

More Mooting Success for NZ

The Otago University Law School team of Alex Brooke, Rob Clarke and coach Selene Mize were the winners of the International Client Consultation Competition in Dublin at the end of April. The Otago team won the right to represent New Zealand at the competition when it won the National ... read more.

April 2012

NZ Jessup Team Top Four Placing

The University of Auckland Law School was placed in the top four in the 2012 Philip C. Jessup International Law Moot - the world's largest and most prestigious moot court contest - held in Washington in late March. They were narrowly beaten in the semi finals by Columbia University in ... read more.

February 2012

Study backs more response options for sex offending - feeds into Law Commission research

Alternative ways of dealing with sexual offending should be tried, given stubbornly unchanged prosecution rates and high levels of victim dissatisfaction with the system, a Law Foundation-backed study has concluded.
These might include substituting jury trials with judges either sitting alone or assisted by lay assessors, as used in European jurisdictions. ... read more.

January 2012

Second Edition of New Zealand Law Style Guide Published

The second edition of the highly successful New Zealand Law Style Guide is out now and accessible from this site.
The first edition, funded by the Law Foundation, and published in 2009, has quickly become the standard for the citation of New Zealand legal material. Justice ... read more.

November 2011

Foundation's Most Prestigious Awards Announced

Studies on banking, unrepresented litigants and oceans governance will be funded by New Zealand Law Foundation scholarships announced at the annual awards dinner on 17th November.
The Foundation’s 2011 International Research Fellowship, New Zealand’s premier legal research award, was ... read more.

2011 Cleary prize-winner announced

David Turner has packed more into his 24 years than most people do in a lifetime – but he’s only just getting started.
A straight-A law student, David is a Supreme Court Judge’s clerk with a raft of legal prizes ... read more.

October 2011

LawCan Donations

Thank you for your donation!
Our online donation site has now closed but donations are still being accepted. If you wish to make a donation, please deposit it directly to:
LawCan Fund, ASB Bank A/c No. 12-3140-0120163-00Please ... read more.

ANDREW ASHWORTH is visiting New Zealand in February and March 2012 as the New Zealand Law Foundation’s 2012 Distinguished Visiting Fellow. His visit is being hosted by the Faculty of Law at the University of Canterbury.
Professor Ashworth is ... read more.

Questioning Child Witnesses - Latest Research Report Released

The latest report on Questioning child witnesses from the Foundation-funded AUT study has just been released. A full copy of the report can be downloaded here. The research was undertaken by Dr Emma Davies, Dr Kirsten Hanna, Dr Emily Henderson and Dr Linda Hand. The JR McKenzie ... read more.

July 2011

NZ Students win award at International Negotiation competition

Law Foundation-sponsored Waikato Law students were rewarded for their negotiating skills at an international competition in Denmark.
Ben Gilbert and Andrew Cameron were representing New Zealand at the international negotiation competition in Copenhagen, and came ... read more.

Scholarship Applications – Reminder of Closing Dates

Applications for our newest Human Rights award, the Shadow Report Award, close on 1 August. The International Research Fellowship applications close on 1 September and the Cleary Prize applications/nominations close on 30th September. Applications for the Doctoral Scholarship close on 1 October.
Please contact Lynda Hagen (04 499 1038; email: ... read more.

June 2011

2011 Ethel Benjamin Scholars choose Harvard

There are three Ethel Benjamin scholarship winners for 2011. The three recipients of this New Zealand Law Foundation award are Charlotte Leslie, Anna Crowe and Natalie Coates and all three intend to study for an LLM at Harvard University.
Charlotte Leslie ... read more.

LawCan Fund launched to help restore Canterbury legal services

The Law Foundation has launched a special fund – LawCan – so lawyers and law firms around the country can support Christchurch people with urgent and ongoing legal needs following the devastating earthquake.
“The ... read more.

A Simple Nullity? The Wi Parata Case in NZ Law and History

In 1877, in the case of Wi Parata v Bishop of Wellington, the justices of the New Zealand Supreme Court infamously dismissed the Treaty of Waitangi as 'a simple nullity'. Castigated by judges, lawyers and commentators in recent ... read more.

NZ's oceans governance to be scrutinised

The effectiveness of New Zealand’s oceans governance regime will come under close scrutiny in a project being undertaken by a University of Canterbury environmental law specialist.
Karen Scott, from the University’s School of Law, has been awarded $50,000 by ... read more.

May 2011

A preliminary study on civil case progression times in NZ

Due to the increasing concern that cases take too long to progress through the court system and that litigants are becoming increasingly frustrated with these delays, researchers at the Otago University Law Faculty conducted a preliminary investigation on the speed of resolution of civil cases in New Zealand.
The project had ... read more.

March 2011

Public Lecture Series Announced for 2011 Distinguished Visiting Fellow

Emeritus Professor in Environmental Law Ben Boer from the University of Sydney, the 2011 New Zealand Law Foundation's Distinguished Visiting Fellow, has confirmed his public lecture series while he is in New Zealand. The dates and venues are:

New Zealand Law Foundation Distinguished Visiting Scholar 2011

Emeritus Professor in Environmental Law Ben Boer from the University of Sydney is the 2011 New Zealand Law Foundation's Distinguished Visiting Fellow. Between 2006 and 2008, he was the international Co-Director of the IUCN (International ... read more.

November 2010

Joint Cleary prize winners

Two young lawyers, Rebecca Elvin and Matthew Windsor, have jointly won the Law Foundation's Cleary Memorial Prize for 2010.
The New Zealand Law Foundation presented the prizes at its fifth Annual Awards dinner in Wellington on 24 November.
A former joint dux of St Cuthbert's College in Auckland, Rebecca graduated from Otago University with ... read more.

Law Foundation recognises internationally respected scholar

Professor Campbell McLachlan QC has received New Zealand's premier legal research award, the 2010 NZ Law Foundation International Research Fellowship.
The award was made at the Law Foundation's Annual Awards Dinner on 24 November. Worth up to $125,000 ... read more.

September 2010

Law Foundation provides funding assistance to a variety of projects

At its recent board meeting the Law Foundation provided funding assistance to a variety of interesting projects.
A study of the effectiveness of Youth Justice Family Group Conferences 21 years on has received a Law Foundation grant of $32,700.
The analysis is being conducted by the Henwood Trust, which works with community ... read more.

Planning good regulation for the future

Badly designed and poorly implemented regulation can cost the taxpayer billions, as evidenced by the leaky home issue. Good regulation can be expensive, but is often worth the investment. A $1.75 million ... read more.

August 2010

Law Foundation Funded Conference on Reconstituting the Constitution 2/3 September 2010

This conference,"Reconstituting the Constitution", builds on an earlier conference "Building the Constitution", hosted by Victoria University's Institute of Policy Studies, and will discuss recent issues relevant to major constitutional change.
17-year-old Wellington College student Rayhan Langdana is looking forward to the prospect of speaking at Parliament before a conference of politicians, ... read more.

Foundation releases major report into Relocation Disputes

Relocation disputes are widely regarded as one of the most controversial and difficult issues in family law internationally. The New Zealand Law Foundation funded a socio-legal research team from the University of Otago to undertake a three-year study on relocation following parental separation from 2007 to 2009. This research was ... read more.

Law Foundation brings leading UK Academic to NZ to discuss miscarriages of justice

May 2010

Auckland women win prestigious Law Foundation Ethel Benjamin Scholarship
The winners of this year's New Zealand Law Foundation Ethel Benjamin Scholarship were announced at the annual New Zealand Law Foundation Ethel Benjamin Commemorative Address held in Dunedin on 7 May.
The two women lawyers who received the 2010 scholarship are Sarah Nolan ... read more.

April 2010

Child Witnesses face more injustice in criminal courts

Children becoming distressed under examination, language barriers and excessive delays are some of the issues raised in a Law Foundation-funded report about child witnesses being launched today.
Child witnesses in the New Zealand criminal courts: a review of practice and implications for policy is being released by AUT's Institute of Public ... read more.

Lady Hale to deliver Ethel Benjamin address

Lady Hale of Richmond, justice of the Supreme Court of the United Kingdom, will deliver this year's New Zealand Law Foundation Ethel Benjamin Commemorative Address.
This 14th annual address ... read more.